The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

In episode 54, a special fifth Wednesday edition of The Secret Cabal Express, Steve, Jesko and Jamie celebrate Halloween by geeking out over the horror movies they love! And we meet a new member of the Secret Cabal monster squad, The Creeper!

In episode 53 of the Secret Cabal Express, Steve, Jamie and Chris talk about H.P. Lovecraft and The Cthulhu Mythos! We discuss the hiustory of Lovecraft and the creation of the Mythos and then talk all about our favorite the stories, games, movies, TV shows and comics inspired by Lovecraft's work.

In episode 193, The Founders celebrate Halloween talking about Halloween Games and more! Today we jump into a deep dive review of Abomination The Heir of Frankenstein from Plaid Hat Games and look back at Eschaton from Archon Games one year later. Tony T wakes up to host another amazing tabletop gaming news segment. And then the gang ends with a spine chilling Halloween themed Short Topic Extravaganza! Abomination Overview 01:10:55, Abomination Review 01:15:38, Eschaton Look Back 01:44:17, News with Tony T 01:54:43, Spooky Short Topic Extravaganza 02:29:47

In episode 32, the gang starts off by talking about the new tabletop role playing game designed and released by Wendy's, Feast of Legends. Then we discuss a new trend in local game stores regarding microtransaction gumball machines providing players with in-game bonuses for their pay to play Dungeons and Dragons games. Then we talk about Mothership, a Sci-Fi Horror Roleplaying Games from Tuesday Night Games. Finally we talk about dice mechanisms and whether or not the impede upon immersion.

In episode 192, The gang starts out by going back to some of the Short Topics from the last episode and updating with some new information followed up by something of the games we've been getting into lately. Then we jump into a deep dive review of Everdell from Chip Theory Games and look back at both Too Many Bones from Chip Theory Games and War Chest from AEG. Then after Tony T gives us a rundown of all the most important news items from around the tabletop gaming world, we have a roundtable discussion about Board Games Expansions. Everdell Overview 01:02:12, Everdell Review 01:06:46, Too Many Bones Look Back 01:32:52, War Chest Look Back 01:37:27, News with Tony T 01:41:49, Board Game Expansions Discussion 02:31:22

In episode Jamie and Aaron give an in-depth look at the new dogflight miniatures Games from Games Workshop, Aeronautica Imperialis: Wings of Vengence

In episode 191 we start out by hearing about Chris' business trip to Atlantic City and talk about a bunch of games we've been playing. Then we jump right into an overview and feature review of Tzolkin The Mayan Calendar by Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini and published by Czech Games Edition. Then Tony T pins the wild meter in the red with his tabletop gaming news segment. And finally, we give you another Short Topic Extravaganza including discussion about if point salads are a bad thing, what we wanted to do when we grew up and end on what games make us the most competitive. Tzolkin The Mayan Calendar Overview 01:25:54, Tzolkin The Mayan Calendar Review 01:29:48, News with Tony T 02:02:50, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:35:26

The gang decides it's time for a RPG campaign change but this time we're going back to a campaign we played over 4 years ago and discuss how it is getting back into it after such a long hiatus. Then the gang talks about their one shot session of the End of the World role playing game published by Fantasy Flight Games. Then finally the Lords discuss the warrior role, roleplaying and discuss some of their favorite warriors in films and TV.

Today we explode into the episode covering a bunch of leftover games from our Gen Con trip! Then we jump feet first into Cthulhu: A Deck Building Game and the standalone expansion, Cthulhu: Horrors in Dunwich by Wyvern Gaming and Look back at one of the best games from last year, Root from Leder Games. Tony T, as always, gives the Cabalists the best damned tabletop gaming news segment in the history of gaming. And finally the gang leaves you with a roundtable discussion about Approachability in board gaming. Cthulhu: A Deck Building Games Overview 01:13:09, Cthulhu: A Deck Building Games Review 01:17:31, Root Look Back 01:48:20, News with Tony T 01:53:38, Approachability Discussion 02:38:31

Chris and Jamie get together to talk about all of their collections today and what they collected when they are kids. They go from Funko Pops, to model cars, guitars, toys, statues and more.

In episode 189 we start out with a big announcement that will take the show to a new level of awesome! Then we go through our Gen Con 2019 retrospective featuring Steve's first impressions, scooters, sunlight killing mold and bacteria, and more. Then we dive deep into Matt Leacock's newest design, Era: Medieval Age. Then we have a double feature look back of both Thunderstone Quest and The Reckoners. Then Tony T gives us a tour through all of the board game media news while we chirp in the background. And finally, we host another Short Topic Extravaganza featuring the waning of our gaming enthusiasm, gaming with fictional and historical characters and gaming with designer commentary. Era Medieval Age Overview 01:34:43, Era Medieval Age Review 01:39:09, Thunderstone Quest Look Back 01:59:58, The Reckoners Look Back 02:07:30, News with Tony T 02:11:36, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:45:49

The summer flu strikes again and Jesko is out of commission but the rest of the game sallies forth! First we talk about out first attempt at going back to a campaign we played 3 years ago. Then we take a question from a listener asking us what new Dungeons and Dragons class we would create. And finally in our discuss first time game masters and some tips that will help get you started on the right foot!

Hey Now Everyone! In today's episode Chris has some family things to take care of but we have Don sitting in for the show! We talk about some great games we've been playing and give you a feature review of Carnival of Monsters from the legendary designer Richard Garfield. Then Tony T takes over the mics to give you all the most important tabletop gaming news stories out there while the rest of us chirp in the background. And finally we discuss emergent narratives in board games. Carnival of Monsters Overview 01:07:31, Carnival of Monsters Review 01:12:22, Founders Update 01:39:03, News with Tony T 01:40:38, Emergent Narrative in Board Games Discussion 02:41:46

In the 50th episode of The Secret Cabal Express, the whole gang, Jamie, Tony, Chris, Steve and Don, who are rolling out to Gen Con 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana get together to discuss the shenanigans they plan on getting into at the convention, talk about Steve's first time going to Gen Con and what to expect, some advice to new convention attendees and then talk about a giant list of games releasing that they're excited about.

It's Wednesday again and the gang is back for more Cabal nonsense. Unfortunately, Jamie is still under the weather with a not so great voice but that doesn't stop the Cabal from rolling. Steve takes over the announcer role today so I hope you enjoy the temporary change. In today's episode we give feature review to Heroes of Land Air and Sea from Gamelyn Games featuring two special guest reviewer, Don and AC. Then we look back at one of our favorite games, Gaia Project from Z-Man games. After Tony T finally gets his audio equipment back up and running, give throws some wild news your way followed by another Short Topic Extravaganza including Kickstarter projects with flaws, teaching your kids to game and Love, Death + Robots. Heroes of Land Air and Sea Overview 00:55:55, Heroes of Land Air and Sea Review 01:01:01, Gaia Project Look Back 01:34:07, News with Tony T 01:43:43, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:21:25

The gang starts out by talking about the brand new announcement of Cyberpunk Red, the companion tabletop RPG top the hot upcoming video game Cyberpunk 2077 that will be coming out at Gen Con. Then AC tells us all about his purchases at Origins and how they're going to turn his life around. The Lords take a question from a listener regarding the need to create balanced adventuring parties and finally do a roundtable discussion about the need for player goals in your campaigns to keep players motivated.

The Founders are back in full force with a new episode of The Secret Cabal! Today the Chris, Jamie and Don take a look at Capstone Games' new economic euro, Pipeline. Then the gang gives you a double feature look back of Dinosaur Island and A Feast for Odin one year later. The latter half of the show is Tony T solid with his wildly popular tabletop gaming news segment and then Tony puts on his robes and breaks out his gavel see justice done in the Cabalist's Court where we hear the complains, argue the points and Tony T passes judgment. Pipeline Overview 01:01:00, Pipeline Review 01:5:27, Dinosaur Island 01:33:36, A Feast for Odin 01:42:06, A Message from Chris and Jamie 01:45:38, News with Tony T 01:58:44, The Cabalist's Court 02:37:55

The plague patients are joined by Aaron from Lords of the Dungeon and our good buddy Don to about Origins Game Fair froggy voices and all. Then we go back in time two weeks to join the rest of the founders and discuss what games we've been playing. The Origins gang then returns to do a feature review of Clans of Caledonia from Karma Games. Tony T storms back onto the show to give us the best damn tabletop gaming news segment of all time and the show ends with another Short Topic Extravaganza including game recommendations for high theme, high depth and low complexity, what board games would make blockbuster movies and finally what are some of the hidden gem board games we've discovered. The Founders Games Played: 00:41:32, Clans of Caledonia Overview 01:26:45, Clans of Caledonia Review 01:30:20, Founders Update 01:56:30, News with Tony T 01:59:23, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:53:09

In today's episode the Lords start out by talking about the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon and the Brazilian car commercial recreating it in live action. Then the gang talks about the new Alien role playing game and the trend of RPGs being board gamifyied with cards, tokens and player boards. Then the Lords take a question from a listener asking if we prefer preexisting published campaign settings or homebrewing. Then finally the group lists many of the campaign settings that they would like to try one of these days.

In episode 184 the gang is back for a jam packed episode! Today we review Fantasy Flight's newest app driven board game, Lord of the Rings Journeys in Middle Earth and look back at Big Trouble in Little China one year later. Then Tony T gets down and dirty with the best damn tabletop gaming news segment in all of gaming media while the rest of us quack in the background. Then finally we have an in depth discussion about replayability in board games and what it means to us. Lord of the Rings Journeys in Middle Earth Overview 00:55:51, Lord of the Rings Journeys in Middle Earth Odyssey Review 01:00:27, Big Trouble in Little China Look Back 01:26:25, News with Tony T 01:36:40, Replayability Discussion 02:23:20